New golf course faces scrutiny from county
By Cara Froedge, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
August 3, 2009
County commissioners may examine whether the cost to golf at Shooting Star is accessible to locals, as required by the course’s permit, during a workshop today.
The board will meet with developers from 11 to 11:30 a.m. in its chambers, 200 S. Willow St.
“We’re getting a lot of questions about how this works,” said Jennifer Bodine, a Teton County planner. “Mostly, this is just to be assured that they’re in compliance with their approved final development.”
County commissioners approved Snake River Associates’ Teton Village golf course in 2006.
During the approval process, SRA volunteered to provide discounted public golf rounds for residents — $50 for 18 holes during the first year and 45 percent off the regular rate after that for as long as the golf course is open.
Additionally, they promised that the high-school golf team will have the opportunity to play for free during the school year and that qualified county fire department volunteers and immediate family will be allowed to play a specific number of free rounds a year.
In total, SRA promised a minimum of 2,000 rounds of golf for local residents each golf season.
Some people have recently questioned whether the rounds of golf are actually affordable.
Bodine said she expects that will be a topic of discussion today.
According to documents submitted in preparation for today’s hearing, a Shooting Star representative said the 2,000 rounds this year will be available proportionately based on the time the golf course is open since it was not open for the full season.
In future years, local residents will be allowed access to the golf course after 1 p.m. on Tuesdays with a reservation made by the preceding Friday. In addition, there will be two community golf days — one in May and one in October.
During those days, tee times will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. for 172 rounds of golf.
Locals who utilize community play must show a valid Teton County drivers license. There is a limit of five non-member rounds per person each year.
“This rule applies to all nonmembers, whether playing as a guest of a member or under the community play guidelines,” the document states.
In 2009, community play members will be charged a $50 greens fee for 18 holes and a reduced fee of $45 for the cart, forecaddie, on-course concession and golf services gratuities, the document states.
A forecaddie is required for those who are not Shooting Star members, it states.
In 2010 and thereafter, Shooting Star will charge no more than 45 percent of the current resort rate for greens fees, it states.
The developers argue that the caddies and carts keep rounds of public play moving, allowing more people to access the course, Bodine said.
Moreover, the document states, Shooting Star offers residents the valley’s lowest greens fee when compared with other places.
The document states that even though Shooting Star was not required to offer community play, it voluntarily offered golfing opportunities for the community.
Bodine said that indeed the offer was voluntary but now developers must comply with their conditional-use permit.
“It’s voluntary in the sense that they offered it up,” she said. “It is now part of their final development plan, and they have to comply with exactly what they’ve offered up.”
